All the 126 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan custody will be released by courts in the island nation on Monday. The Sri Lankan government has already issued release orders to the fisheries department, according to the Times of India news agency.

Sri Lanka has decided to release all Indian fishermen before Diwali as a goodwill gesture.

The fishermen are lodged in various prisons in the country. Seventy eight of them have been lodged in a Jaffna jail while 37 others are in Anuradhapura jail. Seven fishermen are in a Neercolombo jail while four minor boys are lodged at a juvenile home in Mannar.

They would be produced before courts in Mannar, Point Pedro, Kytes and Neercolombo and released, said U Arulanandam of Alliance for Release of Innocent Fishermen.

“We have received information from officials in the country that fisheries department has received the release orders for our fishermen and special motion will be passed in these courts to summon the fishermen to court”, he said.

Among the fishermen in Sri Lankan custody, 54 are from Rameswaram, 16 from Pudukottai, 49 from Nagapattinam and seven country boat fishermen from Tuticorin.

Though they will be released by Monday morning, the repatriation is going to be a challenge due to a storm and rough seas. Chances are high that these fishermen may miss celebrating Diwali at their homes on Tuesday.  (ToI)